Let's talk about Light Novel Harems
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@catstorm Even money on that bet. The only question is how funny will it be.
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@paul-nebeling said in Let's talk about Light Novel Harems:
@steelblaidd Ah, tvtropes. The Baskin-Robins of definitions. There's a flavor for everyone.
I will confess to not just being a reader but also a contributor to TVTropes (Mostly Rokujouma these days).
Even if i disagree with a definition its handy to have a starting point to argue from.Seriously though, I'm a little more rigorous with my definition of what is or is not a harem. While I find Infinite Stratos "battle harem" fun to read, I don't consider that a harem. Arifureta only makes the cut after volume 4 because of Yue's attitude. It's kind of like that that famous quote about pornography. I can't exactly say what it is, but I know it when I see it.
What keeps IS from being a "true" harem? as far as I know there is no official couple and there is at least the potential for romance with at least three of the girls. But I've only read whats here and seen season 2 of the Anime
I must admit I've found my self fascinated by the difference in effectiveness of the approaches taken by the Invaders vs. the IS pilots.
Just reread Koutarou and Kiriha's conversation at the start of Vol 11 and the stated low pressure , build lots of little bonds over time approach of the Invaders not only has resulted in an optimal solution for all of them but they have had more and more fulfilling interactions with Koutarou over the interim. By insisting the Isheka make a complete commitment "now" and going full tsun any time he even says anything nice about some one else the IS girls not only spend more energy and attention on their rivals than Isheka but they reduce the likely hood of his reciprocal gestures.
I've been listening to Dr. Jordon Peterson and he says a lot of things that make the whole harem genre make sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEcNb9tpziU.
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@steelblaidd I will agree that a definition does make a good starting point for a debate.
As for IS, it's too early. Volume 1, and not interested in spoilers from anime or fan translations. Let the story unfold.
No spoilers, but if you're just reading volume 11 of Rokujouma, all I will say is "Enjoy the ride. You've got a long away still to go."
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Rereading. I've read all of it at least twice now. 11 just happens to have some of my favorite parts.
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@steelblaidd Ah. Ok. I just reread the entire series myself recently. Now I'm rereading Smartphone.
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I just watched a video that makes me think this thread needs to be revived cause there are some people out there who just do not know what a Harem is. Just because there is a bunch of girls and a Male Lead that does not make it a Harem. First of all, there needs to be Romantic feeling between multiple of the girls (I would say at least 3) and the MC (though there could be one way or the romantic feelings could go both ways).
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@Drone205 dunno what vid you're talking about but in general, do you mean all the "harem-like" stuff that gets branded with the harem tag?
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@drone205 said in Let's talk about Light Novel Harems:
I just watched a video that makes me think this thread needs to be revived cause there are some people out there who just do not know what a Harem is. Just because there is a bunch of girls and a Male Lead that does not make it a Harem. First of all, there needs to be Romantic feeling between multiple of the girls (I would say at least 3) and the MC (though there could be one way or the romantic feelings could go both ways).
Agreed. The mc has to either...
- Date multiples of the love interests at the same time. Group date “or” not committing to a single one at the same time. (Proper harem would be that there is the intention to accept multiples)
- The assumption that he, or she, will end up with more than one “partners”.
To me, multiple love interests do not make a “harem”.
True harems?
Sekirei (manga)
Imo no misaki (manga)
Slave harem (ln & manga)
Realist hero.
Smartphone in a new world.- It’s not a “true harem” either until it
Portrays the mc as being completely intimate with the harem members. Either fade to black orma mention of what’s happened “between pages/chapters”. (See slave harem). Vs the more “vivid” in Umi no misaki. (No spoilers but a hint only of what to expect).
The problem with most “harem tagged stories” is they have a weaker mc who doesn’t have the self confidence to make those moves, NOR to have a conversation regarding the effects on their relationships going forward.
There’s more than one story that they hold bac cause they are looking for a way home and they don’t want to leave children behind without a father.
Truth is, if that’s a characters personal beliefs, then they wouldn’t break them easily, over time yes, but not as easily as “haters” want them to.
Some examples.
What am I reading?
0) Bookworm-
Seirei Gensouki
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Realist Hero
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Wortenia Senki
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D-Genesis
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Arifureta
Waiting for catchup to fantran -
By The Grace of Gods
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Ideal Sponger Life
Complete
- Fushi no Kami
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@thomask Under true harems, I submit Rokujouma.
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@paul-nebeling said in Let's talk about Light Novel Harems:
@thomask Under true harems, I submit Rokujouma.
I just started a marathon-read of this series, I am halfway through vol 5. You can put it in Spoilers but when does this become a True Harem, and how is it. Where I am at I would probably categorize it as "Platonic Harem."
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